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Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Junior defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was named Pat Tillman Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the Pac-10 Conference on Monday. The honor is the first time an Oregon defensive player has been named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Ngata, recorded 59 tackles, 32 solo. In addition, he posted nine tackles for losses including three-quarterback sacks and blocked two kicks. Ngata has been named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, and one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, honoring the best defensive player in the country. Ngata was also named to the Pac-10 First Team Defense, along with his Duck teammate senior cornerback Justin Phinisee .

Saturday, November 26, 2005

With Alabama out of contention and Virginia Tech back in the driver's seat for the ACC's automatic berth, there were really only three realistic choices -- Oregon (10-1), Notre Dame (8-2) and Ohio State (9-2) -- to consider for the two BCS at-large berths. And since the Irish are a mortal lock for one of them if they beat Stanford on Saturday, the question really is, Ducks or Buckeyes? I don't know the answer -- and I don't think Fiesta Bowl officials do yet, either.

"Much will depend on what the Fiesta does with its first pick (this is under the assumption Texas reaches the Rose Bowl). If it takes Penn State (10-1), obviously Big Ten rival Ohio State is out of the question. If, however, the Fiesta takes the Irish, they'll face a tough decision for Notre Dame's opponent. My guess, as of this week, is they'll go with the Ducks, because they have a better record, and because the Buckeyes would be playing in Tempe for the third time in four years. "

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

A construction worker's tradition of cooking a turkey for an early Thanksgiving celebration went awry when a deep fryer caught on fire, burning the house he and his co-workers had just finished building.

Cement worker Henry Schmerber bought a propane fryer Tuesday and set it up inside the vacant house's garage. Workers took turns watching the kettle. But the fryer's thermometer was broken, and oil inside the kettle overheated, spilling onto the burner and igniting, workers said. Flames spread through the garage and up the front of the house to the second floor. The men used a fire extinguisher to no avail.

Eugene District Fire Chief Paul Dammen estimated the loss at $75,000. The home, which had not been sold, was insured. Undaunted, Schmerber and his co-workers bought a second turkey and cooked it in the backyard of a house across the street. "We're gonna burn another house down," Schmerber joked.

According to published reports, the Ducks got their lobbying campaign into high gear Tuesday, when athletic director Bill Moos and coach Mike Bellotti flew to Arizona to wheedle, cajole and/or outright grovel for the bid. Whichever way the Fiesta decides will send a ripple effect throughout the rest of the bowls.

The 6-5, 338-pound Haloti Ngata , is a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player) and the Outland Trophy (inside lineman award). He has led the Oregon defense in the Ducks' drive to a 10-1 season. He has a 505-pound bench press and the agility to get around blockers. He was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week in a victory over California and also has blocked a field goal and punt this season.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Bring on the Fiesta Bowl baby! The Ducks made a statement in their bid for an "at large" BCS Bowl bid Saturday afternoon in a fog shrouded Autzen Stadium.

The 10-1 Ducks completely dominated the Beavs on both sides of the ball. Senior, Aaron Gipson, shown here returning an intercepted Gunderson pass for the first touchdown in the game early in the first quarter.

The Ducks led at the half, 28-14 and never let OSU score in the second half. Visions of sugar-plums danced in Duck fans heads as they watched Jonathan Stewart return the 2nd half opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That was Stewart's 2nd return for a TD this year on a kickoff, something no Oregon player has ever accomplished in one season.

There are a lot of Oregon Seniors on this squad, especially on defense and I want to thank them (and the rest of the team) for a truly outstanding season of Oregon football.

Now let's hope and pray that the powers to be recognize this teams potential and we go to the Fiesta Bowl.

Cameron Colvin heading for the end zone in the 3rd quarter during a 21-0 run that made all the difference in a hard fought game on a chilly evening in Pullman.

Dixon and Leaf shared the QB duties and led the Ducks to a total of 444 yards of total offense and the defense did just enough to hold off a tough WSU offense.

This game was HUGE for the #10 ranked Ducks quest for a BCS spot (combined with the loss for #9 ranked Georgia).

A solid victory next week in Eugene against the Beavers will propel this whole team into the history books of Uof O football. They have stood in the face of adversity and as a group have made their case for a top bowl game.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Haloti Ngata, 6-5, 340 was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week for his role in the Ducks' 27-20 overtime victory against California on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Ngata had 11 tackles including one for loss (-7) and batted down two passes on the line of scrimmage. The Ducks held the Bears to 14 first downs, 301 yards total offense, with just 2-of-13 on third-down conversion attempts and intercepted three passes.

Most crucially, the Oregon defense only allowed California a solo 2-yard run in overtime before causing California to throw three straight incomplete passes to seal the win.

Statistically, the Cal game was one of Ngata's best in his career. This season he is the team's fourth leading tackler with 49 total tackles (27 solo, 22 assists), 8.0 tackles for loss (-36 yards), three sacks (-20), five pass deflections (batted down at the line of scrimmage). He has also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, blocked two kicks and recorded a safety.

The surprising thing about Ngata's performance on Saturday was that he missed at least one practice last week reportedly for illness.

The Ducks travel next week to Pullman to take on the Washington State Cougars. The kickoff for that game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and the game will be carried live on Fox Sports Net.

Want to do something special for the kids this Holiday Season? Take them on a magical trip on the Polar Express. A 1 1/2 trip from Hood River up towards Mt. Hood. Click on the link below to go to their website.

Chris & Jolene found out about this and I thought it was such a great idea I just had to share.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Cal's QB Joe Ayoob (18) is hauled down by Oregon's Anthony Trucks, left and Brent Haberly, right, after being flushed from the pocket during the fourth quarter Saturday. You can thank the defense for this win.

HalotiNgata was a huge factor in the middle, knocking down passes and pressuring the QB. Trucks added 3 sacks and 3 Ayoob passes were picked off by the secondary.

The winning touchdown was thrown by Brady Leaf in OT, to James Finley in the end zone, it was a 4 yard completion but it was the defense that secured the win.

Friday, November 04, 2005

The final pieces of the Yankees' coaching puzzle were put into place on Friday, wrapping up a week in which the club added five new coaches to Joe Torre's staff.

Ron Guidry, who won 170 games in a 14-year career for the Yankees, was named the team's new pitching coach. Guidry replaces Mel Stottlemyre, who served in the position for the past decade, but opted not to return for an 11th season.

Also introduced on Friday was Joe Kerrigan, who will serve as the bullpen coach. Kerrigan joined the organization last season as special advisor to general manager Brian Cashman, doing in-house advance scouting for the team.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

For the second straight day, the Yankees added a former big-league manager to Joe Torre's 2006 coaching staff, bringing Lee Mazzilli back to the organization as the bench coach.

Mazzilli joins third-base coach Larry Bowa and hitting coach Don Mattingly on the coaching staff, with three more positions -- pitching coach, first-base coach and bullpen coach -- yet to be filled. Bowa was introduced by the Yankees on Tuesday.

The Yankees took the first step in filling their coaching staff yesterday as they signed former Phillies manager Larry Bowa as the 3rd base coach.

The next step will be to find a pitching coach to replace Mel Stottlemyre who retired at the end of the 2005 season.

Luis Sojo, who had been the 3rd base coach is expected to stay with the Bombers in another capacity.

As a little side-note, George Steinbrenner is rumored to have had a little chat with Alex Rodriguez about his habit of playing poker in illegal poker clubs, saying "it doesn't good look for your image." Alex was said to have been seen in the company of Phil Helmuth entering an underground club in New York.